Baghdad: Minister of Water Resources, Muthanna al-Tamimi, emphasized on Thursday the importance of transitioning from traditional methods to adopting modern and advanced technologies in water resource management.

According to Iraqi News Agency, a statement from the ministry indicated that "the Minister of Water Resources received the United Kingdom's Ambassador to Baghdad, Irfan Siddiq, and his accompanying delegation." The statement added that "the two sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries and improve the water resources sector in Iraq."

During the meeting, the minister stressed "the importance of moving from traditional methods to adopting modern and advanced technologies in water resource management and working to develop irrigation projects in line with the current challenges facing the sector."

He pointed out that "the Ministry of Water Resources represents a fundamental pillar in providing services to citizens, which necessitates keeping pace with the exceptional changes that have occurred in the irrigation landscape as a result of drought crises and climate change, and enhancing the efficiency of water resource management to ensure its sustainability."

The Minister of Water Resources emphasized "the importance of leveraging British expertise and the experience of specialized companies in this field, particularly in reassessing and rehabilitating Iraq's water storage control systems, as well as implementing e-governance systems for managing dams and weirs. This will contribute to improving performance efficiency and promoting modern water resource management."

For his part, the British Ambassador expressed "his country's keenness to provide the necessary support and expertise to Iraq," stressing "the importance of intensifying official meetings and visits to enhance cooperation and support efforts to develop and modernize the water resources sector in Iraq."